Vitamin D Supplementation Adjunct to Home-Based Electrical Stimulation Exercise Program Versus Passive Movement Training in Chronic SCI: Individual Results From Trial Under Accrual
Abstract
Background: Neurogenic osteoporosis as a result of bone demineralization is a well-known complication after spinal cord injury (SCI). Bone demineralization is a result of the inevitable mechanical unloading of paralyzed limbs and decreased skeletal muscle activity.
Objectives: To determine the impact of a home-based electrical stimulation (ES)-induced exercise (Excs) protocol plus 2000 IU oral daily vitamin D (vit D) supplementation compared to passive movement training (PMT) plus 2000 IU oral daily vit D supplementation on bone microarchitectural properties as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), bone mineral density (BMD) as measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and biomarkers of bone formation and bone resorption in persons with chronic SCI.
Methods: Six men with motor complete SCI ranging from C8 to T10 were randomized into either 9 months of vit D+ES-Excs or vit D+PMT groups. The vit D+ES-Excs group underwent daily supplementation of vit D with 4.5 months of neuromuscular electrical stimulation-resistance training (NMES-RT) followed by 4.5 months of functional electrical stimulation (FES) rowing, twice weekly, using a home-based training approach. MRI, DXA, and blood biomarkers were captured at the beginning of the study (baseline), 4.5 months (post-intervention 1), and 9 months after training (post-intervention 2).
Results: The percentage changes indicated that 2 persons in the vit D+ES-Excs group showed decreases in trabecular spacing (28%) and…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
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